Hi, dreamers!
I have posted a few blogs here about my experiences in Japan (first out-of-country), South Korea (first solo trip), and Singapore (on being a broke traveler). Today, I am writing about a special place in my home country, the Philippines.
The Philippines, being a tropical country, is famous for its white-sand beaches. But this time, let me share with you a unique beach getaway that is far from the ordinary - how about pebbles instead of sand?
Welcome to the Pebble Beach of Malabrigo!
Batangas province is home to numerous beaches. It is also a famous summer destination for locals due to its proximity to Manila (more or less a 2-hour drive).
Located at the Southern tip of the province is a small town called Lobo. In this town lies a piece of paradise called Malabrigo.
Not a lot of people know about this place because it is hidden in between mountains. One has to traverse the winding mountain road and endure severe motion sickness.
But it is all worth it as soon as you get a glimpse of the place.
Aside from Malabrigo's natural charm, this place holds a special place in my heart because it is also the hometown of my Grandma.
Pebbles and Pristine Waters
Here's a funny story, my nephew, being the curious kid that he is, tried to make a sandcastle, but he ended up giving up. Sand is not the best asset of this beach. I once walked up to where my feet (and courage) could lead me but all I found were gray and white cobblestones.
The best part of this place is the clear water.
I sensed a hint of pride from a local when he shared that the water in Malabrigo is always clear. It is indeed! You can see small fish swimming by the shore (no joke). The kids were busy the whole time looking for fish of different colors, they were even able to catch a few.
Sunset walk
Another thing to look forward to in Malabrigo is the beautiful sunset (who doesn't love the sunset?)
During our recent family reunion, unlike the kids who started swimming from morning till afternoon, the adults took a dip only when the scorching heat subsided. A few more hours later, I noticed that the sun is about to set so I hurried on to get my phone from the room to catch this golden moment.
Gorgeous, as usual.
After a few photo ops, we decided to walk toward the less populated part of the beach where bigger rock formations can be found.
The stones are sharper - and intriguing - on this side. The big rocks look like they came from under the sea. It made us into thinking that perhaps that part of the land was once submerged.
Our agenda, aside from taking Instagram-worthy photos, is to look for the stairs that lead to the lighthouse - and finally we found it!
It was not passable at the moment according to the locals. We decided to go back since it started to get dark.
The little ladies, together with my mom who had just come back from running errands, wanted to soak some more while watching the lights go out. The sky was full of drama.
Day 2 - Making the Most Out of Weekend
We only got two days to spend so I urged to kids to change to their swimwear and enjoy the sea early. It's not everyday that they can experience it.
Even the adults joined in!
Look at my mom getting amazed with the clear water. I thought you'll notice that she's wearing a t-shirt and shorts. In the Philippines, those were the decent swimwear. *wink!
It was fun - and hot! The sunscreen was of no use. LOL
One Last Stop: Malabrigo Light House
Before heading back home, we went to one of the oldest working lighthouses in the country, the Malabrigo Lighthouse also known as Faro de Punta Malabrigo. It is also dubbed as the most preserved lighthouse in the country.
The Victorian-architecture-inspired structure sitting on top of a cliff was built in 1896, during the Spanish colonial era, to guide seafarers through Malabrigo's dangerous route brought about by rocky coastline and high current during monsoon season.
This place holds a part of history, especially during World War II. And just like other places with a lot of history, I also heard about ghost-sightings in this place. My father said that Japanese soldiers were thrown into the well around the structure.
Short and Sweet
That ended our two-day stay in Malabrigo. It was nice to be back. I will always love this place and I am forever proud to say that my roots are somehow from here.
The last time I went here, I was inspired to write a letter to my late Grandma. It was a nice feeling to be stepping on the soil (pebbles) that were part of her childhood memories. This place was also the witness of her and Grandpa's love story.
I guess, I will always be inspired to write whenever I visit Malabrigo. Whether it be imagining how my Grandma's life was or the mere appreciation of our life now.
Perhaps, this is what Malabrigo gives me - a sense of calm. A place that makes me want to look back and look forward with nothing but admiration and appreciation about life.
Do you have that kind of place that gives you peace? Let's tal about it.
Thank you for reading! See you onto the next one.
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